Thank you for levying a $19,143 fine against the University of Oklahoma.
However, serious federal violations at this facility have continued. So,
please LEVY another Fine against University of Oklahoma for their blatant
disregard of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) when their negligence killed a dog
and 5 guinea pigs. This repeat offender's behavior must NOT be tolerated and
MUST be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a $19,143 fine against OU
for violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, according to a recent
press release from an animal watchdog group.

The document by the USDA, obtained by Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!
Thursday, cites OU’s failure to follow research protocols, failure to
administer pain relief to animals in connection to surgical procedures and
overall inadequate veterinary care. The document was issued Nov. 5 of last
year.

Eleven incidents are used to justify the fine, 10 of which are from 2014.
The most recent incident listed in the letter occurred in January 2015,
involving the failure to remove baby baboons while their cages were being
hosed down.

Several incidents in the document describe the negligent deaths of animals
involved in surgical procedures at the OU Health Sciences Center.

The most recent complaints filed by Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, including
the allegedly negligent deaths of guinea pigs and the allegedly negligent
death of a dog from July 2015, are not included in the justification for the
fine.

Michael Budkie, executive director of Stop Animal Exploration NOW!, said the
group is pleased that the USDA is looking into this issue and responding
accordingly.

“But this doesn’t even come close to solving the problems at OU,” he said.
“We believe the animal research program at OU is damaged beyond repair.”

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